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An investigation has been undertaken, within the framework of the 1966 national survey, of the knowledge, practice and effectiveness of contraception in Belgium. The basic findings are presented here.Knowledge of contraceptive methods was rather slight. With the exception of oral contraception, it was the reproductively least effective and sexually most disturbing methods which were best known. Also, the data on the sources of knowledge of contraceptive methods showed a discrepancy between reality and what was considered desirable. Although contraceptive practice was very widespread, a great many of the women questioned felt inhibited about this problem. In general, a restricted number of methods was used and a large majority of the users exclusively practised non-appliance methods. According to shifts in use, a scale of relative acceptability of methods has been prepared.On the basis of information for a subsample, the majority of the conceptions appeared to be unplanned and this phenomenon increased with parity.The contraception data have been related to a limited number of sociocultural identification and performance variables, some of which are of considerable sociobiological importance. The relative effect of these variables on contraceptive behaviour has been examined. Interaction between several of them has been demonstrated.The qualitative analysis of the questionnaires not only allowed answers to be checked and interpreted but also largely confirmed the statistical findings.

SummaryIn 1966, a National Survey on Fecundity and Fertility was organized in Belgium. Approximately 3000 married women under 41 years of age and living with their husbands were interviewed and asked about their reproductive histories. The present paper records the sociobiological aims and methods and some preliminary results of this survey. The aims were to:(1) study the influences of contraception on human needs and qualities, in this case mainly potential fecundity;(2) study the influence of attempts to increase the potential fecundity level in modern society on fecundity gene frequencies;(3) study the influences of the overall socio-cultural environment on fecundity and fertility variables with particular reference to differences in social status in Western society;(4) analyse the role of social assortment of fecundity and fertility variables on the biological structure, and possibly the composition, of modern populations.A relatively large, but far from complete body of data has been collected on a number of individual fecundity and fertility variables, on the medical processes employed to increase fecundity, on contraception, and on a number of conventional sociological and demographic variables.The principles underlying the present approach to the study of fecundity are explained, and a few preliminary results for one of the general fecundity classifications are shown.The information collected on contraception has been qualitatively analysed and a correction and evaluation method is described. Data on the use of the different contraceptive methods show that substantial sections of the Belgian population are limiting their family size in a way which is inefficient, from both sexual and familial standpoints.

1. The Second National Fertility Survey 1971 (NEGO II) -- 1.1. Objectives -- 1.2. The questionnaire -- 1.3. The sample -- 1.4. The organization of the survey and the analysis of the data -- 1.5. Results -- 1.6. The national survey of 1966 (NEGO I) -- 2. Ideal, Desired, Present, and Expected Family Size -- 2.1. The evaluation of statements about desired and expected family size -- 2.2. Definition of the family-size variables -- 2.3. Results for Belgium -- 2.4. Differential fertility -- 2.4.1. Fertility differentiation according to cultural community -- 2.4.2. Relationship between family size and some cultural and economic variables -- 2.5. Conclusions -- 3. Familiarity with and Source of Information about Methods of Contraception -- 3.1. Awareness of contraceptive methods -- 3.2. Source of information about methods of contraception -- 3.3. Relationships with a number of cultural and socio-economic variables -- 3.4. Shifts between 1966 and 1971 -- 3.5. Evaluation of the general situation -- 4. Use of Contraception -- 4.1. Past, present and future use -- 4.2. Changes in use -- 4.3. Duration of the use of contraception -- 4.4. Mode of application -- 4.5. The relationship with some cultural and economic variables -- 4.6. Evaluation of the situation -- 5. Effectiveness of Contraception -- 5.1. Concepts underlying the statistical analysis applied -- 5.2. The number of accidental pregnancies -- 5.3. Effectiveness of contraception in general -- 5.4. The effectiveness of particular contraception methods -- 5.5. Implications for the estimation of the frequency of induced abortion -- 5.6. Evaluation of the situation -- 6. From Planning Behaviour To Planning Result -- 6.1. Planning status of the pregnancies and of the subjects -- 6.2. The relationship with the fertility history -- 6.3. Relationships with some cultural and socio-economic variables -- 6.4. Evaluation of the situation -- 7. The Relationship Between Contraceptional Behaviour and Some Sexual Aspects of the Partner Relation -- 7.1. The investigation of some sexual aspects of the partner relation in NEGO II -- 7.2. The relationship between knowledge about contraception methods and some sexual aspects of the partner relation -- 7.3. The relationship between the use of contraception and the sexual aspects of the partner relation -- 7.4. The relationship between the family-planning pattern, its results, and some sexual aspects of the partner relation -- 7.5. Evaluation of the situation -- 8. The Influence of Contraceptive Behaviour on Family Size -- 8.1. The interrelationships between cultural and economic differentiation, the use of various methods of contraception, and differences in family size -- 8.2. The influence of changes in the use of the methods of contraception under study on the decrease in family size between 1966 and 1971 -- 8.3. Evaluation of the situation -- 9. Conclusions and Implications for Policy -- References.

SummaryThe percentage of accidental pregnancies, the Pearl pregnancy rate and the life-table method have all been used to study the effectiveness of contraception in Belgium, using data from the Second National Fertility Survey (1971), which covered 3397 Belgian women in the age group 30–34 years. Though all three methods yield generally similar results, it is only by using the third method that we can obtain in an optimum way changes in contraceptive effectiveness by birth order and birth interval.Generally, contraceptive effectiveness is low, the cumulative failure rate for the first 12 months of all intervals amounting to 18%. This holds even for intrinsically extremely reliable methods, such as the pill (4%). The efficiency of contraception, however, improves with increasing duration of marriage. This is attributable not only to a shift towards more effective methods, but also to a better application of less reliable methods, such as withdrawal. It remains questionable whether the increase in effectiveness, especially of a method such as withdrawal, is not partially based on induced abortion.The findings also clearly reveal the dual aspect of the contraceptive behaviour in the sample: spacing until desired family size is achieved, and prevention thereafter.The efficiency of contraception decreases with increasing family size, whatever birth interval is considered.

SummaryIn a follow-up of males and females after voluntary surgical sterilization, the social characteristics of the applicants, their fertility and contraceptive history, their motivation, the indication for and mode of surgical contraception, the physical and psychological consequences of the operation, and the outcome of the selection and counselling procedures applied, were studied in a sample of 275 applications with a total of 540 subjects. The survey comprised the pre-operative examination, the first post-operative evaluation 4 months after surgery and the second after 12 months.The main reasons for applying for sterilization were excess fertility due to contraceptive failures and side-effects of reversible contraceptive methods. Almost all of the patients were satisfied with the operation, one of the highest proportions reported so far. Nevertheless, many experienced a real adjustment period. Notwithstanding the careful pre-operative information and counselling, serious fears were often observed, and many found the operation more severe than expected. For the vast majority of the patients the operation had no influence on their family relations. The sexual relationship too was usually unchanged. If there were changes, the positive effects always exceeded the negative ones.The high response to both the evaluations and the high proportions of satisfied individuals are in favour of the selection procedures and multidisciplinary counselling and follow-up practised.

1. A graphic representation of the process of population renewal — a demographic teaching aid -- 2. On methodological aspects in the analysis of nuptiality : an application to the Netherlands -- 3. Prognostic implications of early family building behaviour the use of survey data in estimating ultimate family size -- 4. Evolution of the knowledge about and use of contraceptive methods among married women in the Dutch-speaking community of Belgium, 1966–1976: preliminary results of NEGO III -- 5. Alternative demographic evolutions for Belgium and their impact on macro-economic growth : a quantitative approach -- 6. Labour force participation of married women under 35 years of age in the Netherlands -- 7. Employment of married women -- 8. Public opinion and foreign workers.

1. The Population and Family Study Centre -- 2. The Netherlands Interuniversity Demographic Institute and the National Programme of Demographic Research in the Netherlands -- 3. Partner choice as a statistical problem in demography -- 4. Knowledge, use and effectiveness of contraception in Belgium -- 5. Social demographic analysis of recent fertility patterns in the Netherlands -- 6. Induced abortion: an interdisciplinary study with respect to policy alternatives in Belgium -- 7. The role of induced abortion in the changing pattern of family planning in the Netherlands -- 8. Labour migration from the mediterranean area to the Benelux Countries -- 9. Social integration of young offenders in a longitudinal perspective -- 10. Characteristics and social conditions of residents in old people's homes.